Chapter 279 - 273 Misunderstanding
Most things in this world can be accomplished through enticing benefits; if the other party does not accept, it must be because the offered benefit isn’t large enough.
Or, they are confronted with someone who has firm boundaries, then give them a noble ideal.
Now, Zhao Hanzhang not only offered sufficient benefits but also explained the greatness of their actions.
To put it bluntly, why does she want to establish a Medical Institute?
She wishes for the people under her governance to have a longer average lifespan, preventing them from losing productivity or even their lives due to minor illnesses and pains.
She needs people, a large number of people!
After a long silence, a pharmacy owner asked, "The County Lord needs people, there are many ways to acquire them; the simplest is buying from outside armies or gathering vagrants like now. Why go through such trouble to establish a Medical Institute?"
Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Isn’t establishing a Medical Institute good?"
The owner said, "It’s too good, which is why we had doubts in our hearts."
Zhao Hanzhang was puzzled, "What are you doubtful about?"
A younger pharmacy shopkeeper, unable to bear their wordplay, interjected irritably, "County Lord, won’t you deceive us in and then enlist us all into the military? I’ve heard there’s fighting outside."
Other shopkeepers and doctors also looked at Zhao Hanzhang.
It turned out that it was Prince East Sea and Gou Xi causing her trouble. Zhao Hanzhang said, "Am I such a person?"
Seeing their hesitant expressions, she paused for a moment and said, "If I wanted to directly conscript you into the army, who among you could resist?"
Everyone was silent; indeed, they couldn’t.
"So, why would I go through so many twists and turns to get you into the army?" Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "I am your County Magistrate, your parental official, and you are my people. I wish to bring benefit to the people under my governance, hoping they live long, peaceful, and healthy lives. Isn’t this normal?"
Everyone was suddenly enlightened, feeling somewhat ashamed when they met Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze. The owner repeatedly apologized, "I’ve never seen such a normal County Lord as you before."
Zhao Hanzhang: "...You might see more in the future."
She faced that owner and said, "Mr. Zhang, your family is the largest pharmacy in Xiping County, even during the most difficult times in Xiping County, you insisted on opening. Before the city fell, you led the Zhang Family doctors to treat the people first. Hanzhang has always remembered this and hopes you can take the lead this time as well."
Mr. Zhang also recalled the difficult times, his eyes slightly wet, "As long as the County Lord keeps her promise, I am naturally willing to contribute to the people of Xiping."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang immediately announced, "Good, then from now on, Mr. Zhang will be the manager of our Xiping County Medical Institute."
Zhao Hanzhang immediately took out an official seal from under the table and granted it to him.
Mr. Zhang received it, bewildered, "This...this is the official seal. Was there a Medical Institute in the government before?"
Zhao Hanzhang smiled broadly, "From now on, there is."
Middle-aged Mr. Zhang was stirred by her words; he seemed to be the first manager of a Medical Institute in the government, only...
He was still somewhat confused, "Did the court make this official seal so quickly?"
Zhao Hanzhang casually replied, "It’s easy to handle when you have people in the court."
Everyone understood upon hearing this, and when they looked at the official seal in Mr. Zhang’s hand again, they couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.
Previously, they refused because they feared Zhao Hanzhang might have hidden schemes, but now, it seems there are none.
In this way, Mr. Zhang became an official, even if it was only Ninth Grade.
They didn’t know at this time that the official seal was personally carved by Zhao Hanzhang.
Really. She chose jade stone of material similar to her County Magistrate official seal and carved it bit by bit.
It wasn’t very difficult for her, but Chang Ning and Zhao Ming had complex expressions upon knowing this.
It was the first time they saw a County Magistrate create an official position and craft an official seal himself. Zhao Ming’s heart could hardly endure, he simply turned his back, out of sight, out of mind, conveniently forgetting the fact that the jade used for carving the seal was taken from him.
Fortunately, not many knew about this. Besides the two, only Fu Tinghan and Ji Yuan knew. Others, including Fifth Uncle, thought Zhao Hanzhang applied for recognition from the court.
After all, who would have expected Zhao Hanzhang to have such courage?
Moreover, it’s not just about courage anymore; who would think like that? Creating an official position simply like that, she must think Xiping County belongs solely to her?
Only one person was completely unsurprised, and that was Fu Tinghan.
From the moment Zhao Hanzhang talked about carving out Yu State as her territory, he had subconsciously mapped this area within his sphere of influence.
Therefore, whatever Zhao Hanzhang did here felt normal.
The most important thing was, neither he nor Zhao Hanzhang considered the emperor and court above all.
Many decisions were made before either remembered, oh, they have an emperor and a court above them.
Not many people knew this was Zhao Hanzhang’s personal behavior, so the establishment of not two, but three new departments indeed shook many people’s hearts.
It seemed Zhao Hanzhang’s relationship with Zhao Zhongyu wasn’t as bad as secretly rumored, after all; what she wanted to do, Zhao Zhongyu still helped.
Even Zhao Song asked his son in puzzlement, "Does the Clan Leader know that it’s the Third Lady calling the shots in Xiping County now, or did you speak on behalf of the Third Lady when approaching the Clan Leader?"
Since last year, when Zhao Zhongyu sent his advisors back to try to take over the family affairs, Zhao Song unilaterally broke off with Zhao Zhongyu, mainly by writing to mock and insult him.
Then Zhao Song handed the connection with the Clan Leader line to Zhao Ming.
Zhao Ming was rational, he didn’t mind his own father just finishing insulting someone. The moment his father handed him the power, he immediately wrote to them, hoping that for the future of the Zhao Family, they could set aside grudges and work in harmony. He would fully support the Clan Leader’s career externally and maintain the Clan Leader’s authority internally.
Since then, apart from occasionally writing a few greeting letters (are you sure?), Zhao Song did not interfere in Zhao Ming’s contact with Luoyang.
So he didn’t know that Zhao Ming, together with Zhao Hanzhang, blinded Luoyang’s watchful eyes towards them.
Zhao Ming maintained an unchanged expression and "hmm’d" once, but which point was he "hmming"?
Zhao Song waited for him to continue, but he stopped.
Zhao Song grew angry, "Why did you hmm, is it that he supports the Third Lady, or did you mislead him into thinking he supports you?"
Unfortunately, neither was true.
Zhao Ming internally added a sentence and told Zhao Song, "Father, aren’t you interested in asking why the Third Lady established these three departments?"